Blame the victim resonates across the Arab and Muslim world as four rabbis were brutally murdered and six others wounded in a gruesome attack on an Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Jerusalem, Israel, today.

The way Arab and Muslim leaders are responding to these reprehensible murders which were conducted by two members of Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a terrorist organization which calls for the destruction of Israel and the Jews therein, is nearly as despicable as the acts themselves.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu is quoted in the Daily Sabah, “We condemn the attacks on holy places. We had condemned Israel’s attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque as well. We are in a spiral right now, Israel’s reckless attitude towards Gaza continues, however there are no excuses for the synagogue attack either.” (bold added to text for emphasis)

Quite the diplomat of a foreign minister you have there Turkey. A valid, defensive war toward Gaza justifies the brutal murder of four religious leaders inside a house of worship far away from Gaza “with guns and cleavers” according to Newsweek.

From Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), President of the Palestinian Arabs, in Ma’an News Agency, “Consequently, today the presidency denounces the killing of worshipers at a place of worship in West Jerusalem. The presidency also denounces all violent acts no matter who their source is, and demands an end to the ongoing incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the provocative acts by Israeli settlers as well as incitement by some Israeli ministers.”(bold added to text for emphasis)

Abu Mazen blames the victim. No peace with the Palestinian Arabs can ever occur when everything is Israel’s fault and because the Jews exist anywhere near them, not as subservient citizens, like the Ottoman Empire, but in control of their own government, with their own institution and military.

This mentality exists for multiple reasons.

One, the Palestinian Arab leadership makes billions of dollars through their victim status, as can see when one drives through the West Bank as I did during the war this summer, or through the billions stolen from the people by Yasser Arafat.

Two, the orthodox Muslims take literally the Q’uran and Hadiths where it designates hatred of the Jews (and Christians and Zoroastrians for that matter) and therefore they must get rid of the Jews (example Quran 5:51, 9:29). Or this, which Hamas uses in its own charter, “The Day of Judgement will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews, when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Muslims, O Abdullah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only the Gharkad tree, (the Boxthorn tree) would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews. (related by al-Bukhari and Muslim)”.

Three, an endless breeding of hatred through indoctrination of children that violence toward Jews is a good thing. See the riots and attacks across Europe this summer with Jew Hatred rising to levels not seen since the 1930s, mostly committed by Arabs and Muslims living in Europe. You probably didn’t know about the latest attack on Saturday where a rabbi was stabbed in the throat in Antwerp, Belgium. Or the endless videos out of Middle Eastern countries documenting the teaching of hatred.

I grieve for the families of the victims: Rabbi Aryeh Kupinsky, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Goldberg, Rabbi Kalman Levine, and Rabbi Moshe Twersky. And it is time for those who believe in Universal Human Rights, as only Israel does in the Middle East, to condition any aid or support to the Arabs with official recognition of Israel as the Jewish state it is (with full protections as it does for all minorities, again unlike every other country in the Middle East) and the cessation of violence, calls to violence, and indoctrination of violence in children.

Peace can only happen when both sides desire it.

ADDENDUM 11/18/2014 9:30 PST – A druze police officer was also killed in the attack. A chilling quote I just came across: “Jewish worshipers lay dead in pools of blood, still wrapped in prayer shawls and phylacteries, with holy books strewn on the floor,” Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, who heads Zaka, an emergency response group led by Orthodox Jews, told Israel Radio. “Such sights I have never seen — they recall dark days.”

My final day in Israel, a 72 hour cease-fire announced, a chance for two hours of tourism in Jerusalem, and a final interview from Israel in Tel Aviv.

Chanan Elias from The Face of Israel met me first thing in the morning to head over to the Old City of Jerusalem and the older City of David. The place is the center of the universe for Judaism and Christianity, and the third most important city in Islam behind Mecca and Medina.

This is the location of so many major biblical events. Fascinatingly, over the past 150 years archaeologists have uncovered evidence supporting the events and continue making new finds to this day. I needed to see it first hand.

City of David Excavation, Jerusalem

We began at the City of David, the much older and original Jerusalem, outside of the great walls that we see today. The sun was already beating down from a cloudless blue sky, slow-cooking the top of my head. It was truly magnificent to see the thousands of years of history uncovered in front of my eyes, the layers so carefully scraped back so we could see many different epochs ruled by the various dynasties.

The variety of ethnicities and religions represented by the tourists visiting was astounding. Represented were Africans in traditional wear, Arabs with hijabs, Germans in their sporting gear, Israelis with their small children, what appeared to be an American college-aged group, and more. There were far fewer numbers than normal due to the war.

The Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel

After visiting the Western Wall (כותל), I wanted to visit the various quarters of the old city. We started by heading to the Arab Quarter and found ourselves denied entry by the police. Why? A “Day of Rage” protest was called by the Palestinian leadership. The police said no entry due to the danger as the previous week’s protest in another area had turned violent.

So much for peace or even a cease-fire. Within 15 minutes of the cease-fire time of 8:00 am, terrorists in Gaza continued lobbing rockets at Israeli civilians. Then approximately 90 minutes in to the cease-fire, the terrorists killed two IDF solders and a third is missing. IDF soldier Hadar Goldin, an officer in the Givati Brigade, is officially listed as missing in action. (UPDATE 8/2/14 18:48, Hadar Goldin has been declared deceased)

Jerusalem Police

The police were everywhere. Absolutely professional, even-handed in their treatment toward all, and somehow not melting in the unforgiving late morning sun.

Next up was a trip to Tel Aviv. Chanan and Shay Attias co-ordinated an interview with Sendi Bar, a well-know Israeli actress for shows like the Unit and Prisoner of War, which is the original Israeli series that Homeland is based upon.

Interviewing Sendi Bar

An actress wanting to speak out about the war with Hamas? I was intrigued. Our intrepid videographer, Joshua Fleisher, joined us to video the interview. Once the video is complete, I will share it with you.

In the meantime, let me just say that Ms. Bar is a kind, caring, compassionate, mother who is concerned for her country. She shared an analogy about instructing her son about schoolyard bullies and Hamas. She told her son that the first time a bully hits him, try to work it out with the bully. The second time a bully hits him, tell an authority figure. And the third time a bully hits him, punch him back hard. That is how she feels about Hamas at this point, enough is enough.

After the interview I went to visit Tel Aviv’s internationally famous beachfront. It was everything you have heard: cosmopolitan and beautiful, populated with tanned and toned bodies as if in Los Angeles. Except there were fewer people than a normal, late summer afternoon.

Beachfront Tel Aviv, Israel

Finishing up my final hours in Israel, Sendi Bar invited me to a friend’s house for Shabbat dinner. Of course I said yes.

This was a traditional, yet modern, Shabbat dinner. Generations of family members gathered around the large table outside, friends, and stranger all joined together to light the candles, eat challah, drink wine, and eat well.

After the meal, I went to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport to head home. This was an exhausting trip, that opened my eyes to realities on the ground across Israel and the West Bank. There will be more to come soon.

Thank you to Vicky Culver, Haole Craig, the Gorson’s, Andrew in Austin, TX, and everyone else for contributing so far.

If you haven’t yet and would like to support this trip. Please contribute what you can by clicking the Donate button below.

Contributions of $100 will receive public acknowledgement on this website’s postings from Israel.

Contributions of $500 or more will receive public acknowledgement in videos I produce and on my nationally syndicated Ethan Bearman Show.

Thank you!

Please note that donations to Ethan Bearman Company are not a tax deductible charitable donation

I safely arrived at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport today, July 29, 2014. The first thing I noticed upon departing the plane were the bomb shelter signs every 50 feet. Slightly ominous, but strangely no different than tornado shelter signs in the Midwest. Yes, yes, bombs are made by humans and tornadoes are natural.

Then my driver, Alexei, drove me to Jerusalem. Along the way we passed both Israeli and Palestinian towns. They all had walls, fences, and checkpoints. Otherwise the notable difference was that the Palestinians had black water tanks on their rooftops, while the Israelis had white or silver. And I liked how the road signs were in three languages:: Hebrew, Arabic, and English.

Jerusalem road sign in 3 languages

Dropped my bags at the hotel and was warmly greeted by Chanan Elias with The Face of Israel. We walked across the street to the brand new, state-of-the-art, Voice of Israel studios to begin recording my interviews.

Ethan, Binyamin the senior engineer, and manager/host Yishai Fleisher

I interviewed eight people right away. Then, exhausted and hungry, I went to grab a beer and pita smothered yummy meat, carrots, and other veggies, with the entertaining Chanan.

Chanan Elias and Ethan Bearman

My arrival could not have gone any smoother.

Thank you to Vicky Culver, Haole Craig, the Gorson’s, and everyone else for contributing so far.

If you haven’t yet and would like to support this trip. Please contribute what you can by clicking the Donate button below.

Contributions of $100 will receive public acknowledgement on this website’s postings from Israel.

Contributions of $500 or more will receive public acknowledgement in videos I produce and on my nationally syndicated Ethan Bearman Show.

Thank you!

Please note that donations to Ethan Bearman Company are not a tax deductible charitable donation